Her Star From the East by Mary Lancaster

Can Christmas bring Emma the miracle of a second chance?

Although Emma is about to accept a marriage proposal, she has never forgotten her brother’s friend, Prince Selim, who once flirted with her and made her feel special. But everyone had pronounced her too young and his position within the Ottoman Empire was too precarious. And so they had parted as friends.
As Christmas approaches, a star in the east conjures a ghostly presence and Emma realizes too late that she should have seized her chance of true love.

(Note: This story was first published as part of the Dragonblade Publishing Boxed set O’ Night Divine, December 2020)